A Resource Hiding in Plain Sight

Published: 2022
By Dave Brink

Tell someone you’re an Extension Agent and they have no idea what that is. But mention 4-H or weeds or pests or gardening or community development and they know exactly who to turn to, at least in Mineral County. “The historical mission of the Extension Service, extending the knowledge discovered at the university to the community, often requires integrating more than one discipline. It also requires a thorough understanding of problems in the community, a thorough understanding of what has been learned through research, and insight into unique ways this research might be applied to solving problems” (Journal of Extension, 1998). In Mineral County, MSU Extension programs and expertise serve the needs of an ever-increasingly diverse clientele at the local level, face-to-face. Every dollar of county support for Extension in Mineral County leverages three times as much support from federal and state partners to meet the needs of our clients. MSU Extension continually adapts to changing times and landscapes, and new and emerging issues in a manner well suited to local needs. In short, the local MSU Extension office is a key information and learning exchange resource hiding in plain sight, right in your backyard!